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Post by nipper on Dec 4, 2016 20:18:55 GMT
Hi all. Right, I have killed my bow thruster batteries. Yes , come on then, get it over with!  Due to using the thrusters manoeuvring etc, then mooring up, for a few days, tends to leave these batteries in a wanting state! I bought the current ones about 18 months ago. But today, having been standing for two days, they are now down to 23.2 volts, I hasten to add that they are wired for 24volts. I try look after my domestic 2v deep cycle cells at 12v and my starter battery, which is a normal leisure battery that come with the boat 4 years ago and is still going strong. But the thruster batteries are a different kettle of fish. They are in a position at the bows being charged by a 24v charger sited a foot or two away, the 8 amp charger gets it's power by the boats 240v supply. Maybe I ought to say that the thruster batteries are 110 Ah leasure sealed. What I would like to know is what sort of battery I should be using for the thruster, Starter batteries or Leisure batteries? and what size? Am I right in thinking that a deeper cycle battery wouldn't get enough charge at the right level from my charger, so can be disregarded. Also, because I turn off the charger when I finish with the engine, am I right in thinking that a 24v smart charger wouldn't help much? According to the SidePower manual, such that it is, my 4.4 kw of Bow thruster requires 24V : 250 CCA DIN. I hope this makes some sense and a least some can understand what I am amberling on about? Nipper |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2016 20:23:58 GMT
Have you considered not replacing the batteries and try and see if you can manage without a BT ?
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Post by nipper on Dec 4, 2016 20:28:00 GMT
Have you considered not replacing the batteries and try and see if you can manage with a BT ? I'm afraid it's the same answer i gave you on the other side! Nipper |
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Post by Trina on Dec 4, 2016 20:50:03 GMT
We got a leak in our bow thruster tube...so we had it capped off.I thought I would miss it loads,but I don't Realised that I was often lazy ie using it to push off from lock landings.There are times when the wind (oops sorry 😩😨)would have made a bow thruster useful,but I cope.
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Post by Telemachus on Dec 4, 2016 20:53:16 GMT
Since the bow thruster requires a huge current for a relatively short time, it is better to use leisure or starter batteries (they being much the same thing) rather than deep cycle batteries since these are not optimised to give very high currents. Hence the CCA quote.
Surely the problem is just that you don't recharge the batteries adequately after you've used them to moor. Bearing in mind the 200A or so drained by the thruster, the 8A charger is going to take a long time to replenish it. What facility do you have to continue to recharge the batteries after you shut down?
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Post by nipper on Dec 4, 2016 20:55:40 GMT
We got a leak in our bow thruster tube...so we had it capped off.I thought I would miss it loads,but I don't Realised that I was often lazy ie using it to push off from lock landings.There are times when the wind (oops sorry 😩😨)would have made a bow thruster useful,but I cope. Trina, it's there so i'll use it. i'm 70 ft long and it come in handy around those tight corners too! It's like having cruise control on your car, why? Why, because it's there and it's handy! Nipper |
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Post by nipper on Dec 4, 2016 21:03:20 GMT
Since the bow thruster requires a huge current for a relatively short time, it is better to use leisure or starter batteries (they being much the same thing) rather than deep cycle batteries since these are not optimised to give very high currents. Hence the CCA quote. Surely the problem is just that you don't recharge the batteries adequately after you've used them to moor. Bearing in mind the 200A or so drained by the thruster, the 8A charger is going to take a long time to replenish it. What facility do you have to continue to recharge the batteries after you shut down? Well,i could keep the thruster charger turned on at it's fused switched spur, but that means running down my domestic batteries a little in the proccess. But i am nursing these as they are 2volt cells and i am very aware they need to be looked after! Normally i don't use the bow thruster much, but i find that if it is used, it gets used more that daythan any other day. Perhaps it's a a particular canal in a particular wind, who knows, but if it's there it will be used when required. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2016 21:16:04 GMT
Sounds like you need to treat your BT batteries with the same expect as your leisure and starter battery if you want them to last longer. I but I guess you know that already.
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Post by Telemachus on Dec 4, 2016 21:16:46 GMT
I think the idea of dedicated solar (from the other channel) is a good one. Either that or perhaps you can work out some timer system that leaves the BT charger on for a while when you leave the boat.
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Post by smileypete on Dec 5, 2016 10:48:36 GMT
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Post by nipper on Dec 5, 2016 11:38:32 GMT
Thanks Smiley But we live onboard and Constantly Cruise using the theaory that we run the engine to charge to Batteries up for about 4 hors a day, so we may as well move whilst we are oing it! We seldom ever stay longer that a day or two anywhere! If we leave the boat at all then the power is turned off and the solar can do it's thing, without supplying any too the boat. Nipper |
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Post by smileypete on Dec 5, 2016 11:46:43 GMT
Thanks Smiley But we live onboard and Constantly Cruise using the theaory that we run the engine to charge to Batteries up for about 4 hors a day, so we may as well move whilst we are oing it! We seldom ever stay longer that a day or two anywhere! If we leave the boat at all then the power is turned off and the solar can do it's thing, without supplying any too the boat. How long is the inverter on each day? If seldom, maybe charge the BT batts from a couple of smallish '12v' panels in series and cheap but decent PWM controller (Eg Tracer/EPSolar LS1024B). Or rig up a current limiting DC boost converter to charge the 24V BT batts from the 12V domestics, eg: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-DC-600W-10-60V-to-12-80V-Boost-Converter-Step-up-Module-car-Power-Supply-ZY-/142161232031Maybe try and get unsealed leisures if the existing sealed ones haven't lasted, el cheapo leisures can be hit and miss and the sealed ones even more so it seems. |
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Post by nipper on Dec 5, 2016 17:24:43 GMT
The inverter is on all the time we are cruising as it is this that is giving 240ac power to the Bowthruster Charger. Yes, never again will I buy sealed batteries, even if they are cheap and the girl has lovely eyes! Nipper |
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